Cleveland Indians Akron Minor League Team Now Glitters Under New Ownership

7/13/2016

Cleveland.com

Greater Akron—"A ballpark needs a community a lot more than a community needs a ballpark." That's what Jim Pfander told me as we walked through an empty Canal Park. Pfander is the general manager of the Akron RubberDucks, who are preparing to host Wednesday's Eastern League All-Star game. This is a big deal, but it's another sign of a franchise that has been revived. It's about Ken Babby's ownership, which takes nothing for granted when it comes to appealing to fans.

To quote another Akronite, LeBron James: "In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned." In the last three years, Babby and his staff have been earning back the support of Akron's baseball fans.